“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
Confucius

Do you like your job and feel as if it has a purpose? Do you feel as if you're stuck at a dead-end job with no escape? The truth is, we've all had jobs that we enjoyed and others that we've hated.

Nonetheless, it's extremely important to be involved in a career that you like and that's because our professional lives are where we spend most of our time as adults.

The easiest way to end happiness is by working at a job you despise! 

Therefore, before beginning further education studies, pupils are wise to consider all their options and study something that matches their interests. For example, if you adore personality tests, analysing the functions of the human brain, and aiding those with mental health issues, you should probably study a psychology degree at university.

However, what are psychology jobs open to graduates in the UK? Let's find out in today's article!

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Dr madara
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1st lesson free!
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Peter
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Gift icon
1st lesson free!
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What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree?

human mind
Psychology graduates work tirelessly to decipher aspects of the human brain. (Source: Unsplash)

In the United Kingdom, depending on your previous qualifications and overall dedication, a psychology degree may take anywhere between three to four years to complete. A three-year degree in psychology from an accredited further education centre is accepted by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

However, many permanent and temporary psychology degree jobs in the United Kingdom require more than a three-year undergraduate course but also an additional three-year postgraduate qualification program in clinical psychology or something similar.

Nonetheless, it's important to mention that psychology is an explorative career for those who would like to better comprehend the human brain and the mind. Also, during the study of a university-based psychology program at a qualified school, students discover new areas of mental health that they would like to specialise in such as clinical, research, or occupational psychology.

So, the question arises, what jobs can you get with a psychology degree? The following list provides psychology grads with a variety of potential employment positions across various sectors:

  • Social worker, 

  • Psychotherapist, 

  • Business management, 

  • Private or public psychologist, 

  • Guidance counsellor, 

  • Life coach, 

  • Teacher of psychology, 

  • Psychological research, 

  • Human resource management. 

As we briefly stated above, some of the previously mentioned psychology-based jobs may require specific training accreditations and more schooling since the situations presented at work may be more complex.

If you're looking for more specialised and specific jobs that relate to psychology, here are a few options:

  • Clinical psychologist,

  • Educational psychologist,

  • Forensic psychologist,

  • Health psychologist,

  • High-intensity therapist,

  • Occupational psychologist,

  • Sport and exercise psychologist.

Also, since most psychology graduates expect to work as a psychologist, the following are the work responsibilities that most psychologists will encounter daily:

  • Maintaining records, reports, and data,
  • Conducting, interpreting, and reviewing the assessment results of clients,
  • Trying their best to guarantee that all forms of documentation are accurate and complete,
  • Assessing and screening persons to make appropriate referral and treatment recommendations,
  • Staying up-to-date with any changes or developments in the mental health sector,
  • Conducting conferences, attending workshops, or visiting educational institutions to help further develop training in psychology to build awareness.

One thing is true: you will never be bored working as a psychologist!

Also, there are so many options to expand your professional development since psychology graduates are sought out after individuals across many domains.

Psychology degree holders may decide to work in the public domain at schools, clinics, and hospitals, or in the private sector offering care to their clients. But, how much money do psychology jobs pay annually in the UK? Keep reading to find out more!

How Much Do Psychology Degree Graduates Earn?

courage to press forward
Across all jobs, psychologists encourage their patients to keep moving forward and to try their best. (Source: Unsplash)

When studying a degree program at a university level, it's common for students to not only question what type of jobs will be available to them after graduation but also how much money they can make annually. So, what's the net income of psychology degree holders in cities and towns throughout the UK?

The annual salary of a psychology graduate depends on the following factors:

  • The town or city, 
  • The past working experience of the psychology graduate, 
  • The specific expertise acquired by the psych degree holder, 
  • Whether the job is in the private or public sector. 

For example, it's worth stating that psychology graduates are paid more in large cities such as London or Manchester, when they have years of experience, boast specific qualifications in their domain, and when working in the private sector.

Nonetheless, based on data and recent statistics, the average annual salary of psychology graduates who have studied a three-year program at university is anywhere between £21,000 to £34,000. 

But, how much do entry-level psychology jobs make? Without any work experience or outstanding qualifications, starting psychology grads cannot expect to make too much money. Some starting psychologists earn only £21,000 per year. However, after some months, or years, of expertise and on-the-job training, the yearly salary goes up; yet that depends on where psych students find employment.

What are the typical employers that offer psychology jobs? The following are a few of the major employers of psychology graduates:

  • Counselling services,
  • Human resources departments,
  • The local and national governments,
  • Marketing companies,
  • The NHS, 
  • Enforcement agencies such as the police forces, the National Probation Service, and prisons, 
  • Schools at different levels such as primary, secondary, or university, 
  • Social research organisations, 
  • Social services.

As you can see from the previously mentioned list, psychology majors can find employment in the private and public sectors. It's worth mentioning that psychology jobs in the private sector tend to pay more than those at government-run organisations such as schools or prisons.

Many psychology jobs in the private or public domain require individuals to have their accreditations and skills reviewed and approved by the BPS in the United Kingdom. 

But, what is the highest paying psychology job? Whether you're living in the USA or the UK, the most profitable employment position for psychology majors remains the same: psychiatrist. After graduating with their postgraduate degree and receiving adequate training through internships, psychiatrists can expect to earn more than £100,000 annually.

So, are you ready to start looking for psychology jobs? Take a look at the following subheading to discover where you can find employment!

Where to Find Psychology Jobs in the UK?

job hunting sites
There are plenty of job hunting sites where psych majors in their last year of uni can start looking for employment positions. (Source: Unsplash)

Finding employment positions that require experience in psychology or a degree from a further education centre is quite simple in towns and cities throughout England. But, how? Well, in recent years, everything has moved online and the absolute best place to find psychology jobs in the UK is on job hunting sites. Let's take a look at three employment finding websites that are brilliant resources.

Indeed

"Of all the job hunting websites on the internet, they search for ours." 

The developers of Indeed fully sympathise with the previously mentioned quote. That's because even though the internet is teeming with job searching sites, 63% of all job seekers in the UK flock to Indeed to help them locate an employment position that is tailored to their qualifications and experience.

Indeed offers plenty of psychology graduate jobs in the following domains that are posted daily:

  • Psychology research assistant jobs, 
  • Forensic psychology jobs, 
  • Psychology teacher jobs, 
  • Health psychology jobs. 

After using the Indeed site, people wouldn't believe the different jobs with a psychology degree that is available in cities around the UK.

LinkedIn

Another popular resource that is utilised in the UK and across Europe is LinkedIn. After creating a profile that highlights your past education, skills, and job experience, psychology graduates are easily able to apply for jobs that you can get with a psychology degree.

Also, if you have your CV attached and cover letter attached to your LinkedIn account, you can apply for jobs with just one or two clicks! 

Nonetheless, it's worth mentioning that sometimes before accepting a psychology job, you may need to refresh your knowledge or understanding of a specific discipline or concept. So, what can be done? Some might search the internet hoping that they'll find the necessary information. However, on the other hand, a wiser option is hiring a private psychology tutor to refresh your memory.

On the Superprof site, psychology graduates from across the UK may easily find experienced, engaging, and qualified psych educators that are more than happy to fill in any gaps in their knowledge. Also, students of psychology at university can seek the assistance of private tutors.

Superprof psychology instructors are affordable and can teach either in-person or online lessons. 

In conclusion, due to the increasing demand for addressing mental health, there are plenty of jobs available to graduates of psychology in the United Kingdom; the sky is the limit!

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Brentyn Herda

Avid movie-goer, reader, skier and language learner. Passionate about life, food and travelling.